Part 1, Chapter 4 Notes from The Stranger

The Stranger Part 1, Chapter 4

The following week, Meursault works hard at his company, visits Raymond often, and sees two movies with Emmanuel (who understands nothing onscreen). On Saturday, he goes to the beach with Marie, they play in the water and are intimate all day long. They race back to his apartment where Meursault tells her all about Salamano and Raymond. They jump in bed together again.

"She was wearing a pair of my pajamas with the sleeves rolled up. When she laughed I wanted her again. A minute later she asked me if I loved her. I told her it didn't mean anything but that I didn't think so. She looked sad. But as we were fixing lunch, and for no apparent reason, she laughed in such a way that I kissed her." Part 1, Chapter 4, pg. 35

At the moment of their kindling romance, they hear fighting and screaming breaking out in Raymond's room. Raymond has beaten up his girl over and over again, screaming about her cheating on him, meanwhile violently expressing his anger. Marie is shocked. She cannot understand why Meursault will not call a police officer. He claims that he does not like them and does not want to deal with their paperwork and attitudes. Another neighbor brings in the policeman who slaps Raymond across the face, forcing his cigarette to fly through the air. The woman, badly beaten, claims that Raymond is a pimp who beats on women. The policemen pays her little heed and eventually leaves. Raymond tells Meursault that whatever happens doesn't matter, his actions were justified, and even if he gets in trouble, the girl got a beating that she deserved.

Raymond asks Meursault to act as a witness that the girl cheated if needs be for police files. He complies.

On their way out, Salamano begs for help in search of his dog. He worries that the pound took him away and he may not be allowed to keep it because of its grotesque skin disease and the scabs produced by it. Meursault does not care about Salamano's canine woes and goes to his own room. However, through the door, he can hear Salamano sobbing. This noise makes him think briefly of Maman. But, he soon returns to his own thoughts, bed, and hunger pains.